Arizona News – The Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health (The Alliance), a program of Affirm, Arizona’s designated Title X (Ten) agency, has issued the first-ever report on the health and wellbeing of Arizona’s youth. The State of Adolescent Health in Arizona is the result of extensive research, thoughtful deliberation and collaboration among key stakeholders and Alliance organizational partners. The report presents indicators in the following domains to broadly describe the state of adolescent health in Arizona: Health and Wellness, Education and Workforce Development, Family and Community, Environment and Climate, and Economic Wellbeing. Together, they reflect how complex interactions between youth and their social, cultural, economic,…
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By Tommy Acosta — Sedona, AZ So, it looks like the referendum on the Cultural Park made the ballot. Now comes the rallying, meetings, community forums, ads, and arguments between those who support or oppose the Safe Parking concept. There are good arguments that elected officials should be allowed to do their elected jobs and that the public should lean back and let them work. But you can’t beat a good old-fashioned referendum that brings the final say to the citizens themselves. That’s the bottom line, the foundation upon which democracy is built. Get over it. The council’s only job…
By Amaya Gayle Gregory Life is a mystically magical tangle of highs and lows, shadow and light, happiness and sorrow. Most of us want the highs and light and happiness without that other stuff. It may be natural, but it isn’t possible. Desiring the good without any of the bad, devising ways to win and conquer, or at least to not feel as bad, is life as most live it: round and round on the hamster wheel. It’s spiritual mud wrestling with a ghost, in short, the hero’s journey. Funny that it’s called a hero’s journey. Makes it sound romantic.…
… another day of catch up and do things around the house … always a satisfying feeling when you get to see the results of your labor … I did that! Sometimes you just to let things slide for a while though and then when you do it, it is doubly sweet! That’s my category. A sequence that I shot on Wednesday down at the lake of an egret flipping his catch so that he can swallow the fish headfirst … dorsal fins on fish require that or else the egret is in serious trouble. In the top photo he…
Sedona News – The Mary D. Fisher Theatre is honored to be the home for the Met Live Opera programs for the 2023-2024 season, presented by the Sedona International Film Festival. The season continues with Puccini’s “La Rondine” live via simulcast on Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m. and the encore presentation on Wednesday, April 24 at 3 p.m. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP_NttbVS1s Plan to come early as Russ Fox will lead a pre-opera talk one hour before the LIVE production on Saturday. Puccini’s bittersweet love story makes a rare Met appearance, with soprano Angel Blue starring as the sophisticated French courtesan Magda,…
Arizona News – The Coconino National Forest will begin selling 2024 season firewood permits at its ranger stations and headquarters Monday, April 15 as seasonal road closures begin to lift for roads suitable for motorized travel. The minimum cost for a permit is $20, with a maximum purchase of 12 cords per household. Permits allow for the cutting of down and dead wood or standing wood that meets certain criteria in specified areas. The cost for oak, aspen, juniper and maple will be $5 per cord, and the cost for pine and mixed conifer will be $2.50 per cord. Even though some forest roads…
Verde Valley News – Eight lucky Sedonians recently enjoyed a special seven course Spanish tapas dinner, paired with six Spanish wine varietals. The dinner, at the home of Oak Creek Villagers David Gill and Elizabeth Loos, resulted from auction bids benefitting the Verde Valley Sanctuary (VVS). The tapas plates included a traditional nibbling plate with both Marcona and Valencia almonds, Manchego and Petit Basque cheeses, Marinated Olives and Bacon-wrapped Dates. Additional tapas plates, served in the order listed, included Cold Melon Soup with Prosciutto, Lemon Garlic Shrimp with Lemon Raviolis, Beef with Dried Cherry Relish on Crostini, Artichoke Hearts and Tomatoes, Smoked Chicken and…
By Rabbi Alicia Magal The JCSVV offers services and classes which are life-affirming and soul enriching. All are listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Visitors are welcome to attend services after security check. People who cannot attend or who live far away can access the service through zoom. Several classes, holidays, and special events are coming up in April. Check the website and plan to join us! Erev Shabbat services begin on Friday evening, April 19 beginning at 5:30 pm in person and on Zoom led by Rabbi Alicia Magal. Rabbi Magal will chant from this week’s Torah portion, Metzora (Leviticus 14:1…
Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Hard Miles” showing April 19-24 at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. Matthew Modine, Sean Astin and Cynthia Kaye McWilliams star in the powerful uplifting journey “Hard Miles”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxwcSaXXAZE A strong-willed social worker at a youth facility assembles an unlikely cycling team of juvenile convicts and takes them on a transformative 1000-mile bike ride. “Hard Miles” tells the uplifting true story of the bicycling team at Rite of Passage’s RidgeView Academy, a medium-security correctional school in Colorado. The film follows beleaguered…
Verde Valley News – From the dawn of human history, that red dot in the night sky has fascinated humankind. Celebrated by cultures in Asia, Europe and the Americas as the God of Warfare, reputed home of suspicious canals and little green men, Mars is an enduring source of science, mythology and wonder. Yavapai College’s Verde Campus OLLI program invites everyone to a free Munch ‘n Learn that explores the celestial neighbor that has captured human imaginations for centuries. “A Guided Tour of Mars” lifts off Thursday, April 18, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., in room M-137 of YC’s Verde…
Sedona News – The Village Rotary is pleased to announce its annual Rotary Community Garden Plant Sale & Open House, taking place on May 4th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Community Garden, accessible in the Village of Oak Creek via Verde Valley School Road. Led by Robert Wright, the Garden Committee ,with cooperation from AZ Milkweeds for Monarchs, plans a great open house. Now in its fourth year, the Rotary Community Garden continues to thrive under the stewardship of Village Rotarians. With 24 garden beds, 17 leased to local gardeners and 7 tended by Rotarians, the garden…
Verde Valley News – During the month of April, Verde Valley Sanctuary (VVS) recognizes National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). We take this moment to reflect on the strength and resilience of survivors and victims, the perseverance of advocates, and the dedication of the professionals in many fields who support those who experience sexual violence. The term “sexual assault” is an umbrella term that includes all of the following: Rape; Molestation; Unwanted sexual contact of any other form; Sexual harassment; Incest; Child sexual abuse; Sexual violence, even with an intimate partner; Sexual exploitation; Human trafficking; Voyeurism. Sexual violence causes life-changing…
Sedona News – The city of Sedona invites 501(c) organizations to apply for city grants. Applications are due by noon on Apr. 25, 2024, with awards finalized in July 2024 by City Council. Grant applications are available for programs, activities, or events developed by 501(c) organizations that provide a public service or benefit and are consistent with the city’s funding priorities. Individual grant amounts have typically ranged from $2,000 to $20,000. For this year’s grant cycle, the funding has increased from $200,000 to $350,000 with a minimum of 40% to be allocated to the arts, 40% to be allocated to…
… it was a good day for Avocets in breeding plumage and also for Egrets in full breeding plumage at the lake … always look forward to getting shots of the Avocets every Spring and this Spring produced some very beautiful birds on small islands just above the water … the curved bill is so that they can get under rocks and such to obtain their food. The Egret below is in full breeding plumage too and joins the one talon club (well maybe there are two touching.) Not sure how anyone could ever slaughter these beautiful birds just to…
Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Sedona premiere of “Wicked Little Letters” showing April 19-25 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. “Wicked Little Letters” features an all-star cast including Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Gemma Jones, Eileen Atkins and Timothy Spall. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeTeCWbF8KY A 1920s English seaside town bears witness to a farcical and occasionally sinister scandal in this riotous mystery comedy. Based on a stranger than fiction true story, “Wicked Little Letters” follows two neighbors: deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). When Edith and…